Dual chamber mixing syringe and method for use

Abstract

A mixing syringe and method for using the mixing syringe are provided. The mixing syringe comprises a housing having a first compartment for containing a first component, an outer plunger having a second compartment for containing a second component, and an inner plunger. Prior to use, a seal separates the first and second components. To prepare the mixture, the seal is pierced and the two components are mixed. The mixing syringe and its method of use are particularly suited to applications in which at least one of the mixture components is a relatively highly viscous material.

1 . A method for mixing a mixture with a syringe, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a mixing syringe having a housing containing a first constituent of the mixture, a first plunger slideably displaceable within the housing having a mixing chamber containing a second constituent of the mixture, and a second plunger slideably displaceable within the first plunger, wherein a separation seal separates the first constituent from the second constituent prior to use;    opening the separation seal to permit flow between the housing and the mixing chamber to allow the mixing of the first and second constituents;    driving the first plunger forwardly to displace the first constituent into the mixing chamber;    driving the second plunger forwardly to displace the first and second constituents from the mixing chamber into the housing;    repeatedly alternatingly displacing the first and second plungers forwardly to repeatedly displace the first and second constituents between the mixing chamber and the housing to mix the first and second constituents; and    displacing one of the first and second plungers forwardly to eject the mixed first and second constituents from the mixing syringe.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mixing syringe comprises a discharge seal sealing a discharge opening of the syringe, wherein the method comprises the step of unsealing the discharge seal after mixing the first and second constituents.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the seal comprises a valve, and the step of unsealing the seal comprises opening the valve.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the seal is a removable seal and the step of unsealing the seal comprises removing the seal.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the mixing syringe comprises a needle attached to the housing during the mixing of the first and second constituents.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mixing syringe comprises a needle attached to the housing during the mixing of the first and second constituents.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the separation seal comprises a pierceable seal and the step of opening the separation seal comprises the step of piercing the separation seal.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the separation seal comprises a valve and the step of opening the separation seal comprises the step of opening the valve.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of opening the valve comprises the step of displacing one of the first plunger and the second plunger.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of opening the separation seal comprises the step of displacing one of the first plunger and the second plunger.  
   
   
       11 . A mixing syringe for mixing a mixture, comprising: 
 a housing having a first fluid chamber containing a first component of the mixture;    a first plunger slideably displaceable within the housing having a second fluid chamber containing a second component of the mixture wherein the first plunger is operable to eject the first component from the first chamber by displacing the first plunger forwardly;    a seal separating the first component from the second component prior to use;    a second plunger slideably displaceable within the first plunger wherein the second plunger is operable to expel the second component from the second chamber by displacing the second plunger forwardly, whereby upon unsealing the separation seal, alternatively repeatedly displacing the first and second plungers operates to displace the first and second components between the first and second fluid chambers to mix the first and second components;    a needle attached to the housing; and    a valve operable to prevent flow of fluid through the needle during the mixing of the first and second components.    
   
   
       12 - 42 . (canceled)  
   
   
       43 . A method for mixing a mixture with a syringe, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a mixing syringe having a housing configured to receive a first constituent of the mixture, a first plunger slideably displaceable within the housing having a mixing chamber configured to receive a second constituent of the mixture, and a second plunger slideably displaceable within the first plunger,    selecting the first constituent such that the first constituent is a fluid having a relatively high viscosity;    filling the housing with the first constituent;    filling the first plunger with the second constituent;    sealing the first constituent from the second constituent;    opening the seal between the first and second constituents to permit flow between the housing and the mixing chamber to allow the mixing of the first and second constituents;    driving the first plunger forwardly to displace the first constituent into the mixing chamber;    driving the second plunger forwardly to displace the first and second constituents from the mixing chamber into the housing;    repeatedly alternatingly displacing the first and second plungers forwardly to repeatedly displace the first and second constituents between the mixing chamber and the housing to mix the first and second constituents; and    displacing one of the first and second plungers forwardly to eject the mixed first and second constituents from the mixing syringe.    
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43  comprising the step of selecting the second constituent such that the second constituent is a fluid having a relatively high viscosity.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the mixing syringe comprises a discharge seal sealing a discharge opening of the syringe, wherein the method comprises the step of unsealing the discharge seal after mixing the first and second constituents.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of opening the seal comprises the step of piercing a pierceable seal.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the step of opening the seal comprises the step of displacing one of the first plunger and the second plunger.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of repeatedly displacing the first and second plungers comprises displacing the first plunger forwardly to expel the first and second constituents from the housing into the mixing chamber.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the step of displacing the first plunger forwardly to expel the first and second constituents is operable to displace the second plunger within the first plunger.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the step of repeatedly displacing the first and second plungers comprises displacing the first plunger forwardly to expel the first and second constituents from the housing into the mixing chamber.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the step of displacing the first plunger forwardly to expel the first and second constituents is operable to displace the second plunger within the first plunger.